Washing machine with dual speed cycle control means

ABSTRACT

A MOTOR-DRIVEN CAM-OPERATED SWITCH HAVING A ROTARY CAM ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY OPEN AND CLOSE AT LEAST ONE SWITCH MEANS IN RESPONSE TO THE ROTATION OF THE CAM AND HAV ING A DRIVE MOTOR ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY, IS PROVIDED WITH A TWO-SPEED DRIVE TRAIN ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY TRANSMIT LOW OR HIGH SPEED ROTATIONAL MOTION TO THE ROTARY CAM. THE TWO-SPEED DRIVE TRAIN COMPRISES FIRST AND SECOND DRIVE PINIONS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND DRIVE THE ROTARY CAM, MEANS TO SELECTIVELY ENGAGE ONE OF THE DRIVE PINIONS WITH THE ROTARY CAM, AND DRIVE MEANS ADAPTED TO CONNECT EACH OF THE DRIVE PINIONS TO THE DRIVE MOTOR SUCH THAT THE FIRST DRIVE PINION MAY BE OPERTIVE TO DRIVE THE ROTARY CAM AT HIGH SPEED AND THE SECOND DRIVE PINION MAY BE OPERATIVE TO DRIVE THE ROTARY CAM AT LOW SPEED.

' Nbv. 23, 1971 G. N. JENNINGS PIC-3.3

WASHING MACHINE WITH DUAL SPEED CYCLE CONTROL MEANS Filed Dec. 22. 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR,

GRESHAM N. JENNINGS HlS ATTORNEY Nev. 23, '1971 G. N. JENNINGS 3,621,730

WASHING MACHINE WITH DUAL SPEED CYCLE CONTROL MEANS Filed Dec. 22, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GRESHAM Mw IEMMMGS BY v H s ATTQRNEY United States Patent Ofice 3,621,730 Patented Nov. 23, i971 3,621,730 WASHING MACHINE WITH DUAL SPEED CYCLE CONTROL MEANS Gresham N. Jennings, Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company lFiled Dec. 22, 1969, Ser. No. 887,190 Int. Cl. F16l1 3/34 US. Cl. 74-354 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A motor-driven cam-operated switch having a rotary cam adapted to selectively open and close at least one switch means in response to the rotation of the cam and having a drive motor adapted for connection to a source of electrical energy, is provided with a two-speed drive train adapted to selectively transmit low or high speed rotational motion to the rotary cam. The two-speed drive train comprises first and second drive pinions adapted to engage and drive the rotary cam, means to selectively engage one of the drive pinions with the rotary cam, and drive means adapted to connect each of the drive pinions to the drive motor such that the first drive pinion may be operative to drive the rotary cam at high speed and the second drive pinion may be operative to drive the rotary cam at low speed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a dual speed motordriven cam-operated switch of the type which may be employed as the cycle control timer for such major appliances as domestic automatic fabric washing machines.

It is important in the design of automatic washing machines to provide appropriate cycles both for the washing of small loads of lightly soiled fabrics as well as for the washing of large loads of heavily soiled fabrics. As the capacity of the modern washer to handle large loads of fabrics has increased, it has become increasingly more diflicult to utilize the same washing basket and the' same washing cycle for both small and large fabric loads. It is particularly difficult to wash a small load of delicate and dainty garments in the large basket of an automatic washer without causing damage and excessive wear thereto. It is also difficult to utilize, without causing excessive fabric damage, the same washing cycle or portions thereof as is used to wash large loads of heavily soiled fabrics. Furthermore, to do so would be inetficient not only with regard to the excessive quantity of water used but also with regard to the excessive length of the wash, rinse and extraction cycles to which the small load of lightly soiled fabrics would be unnecesarily subjected.

To overcome the problem of washing small fabric loads in the large basket of the modern washer, it is known to provide the washing machine with a small auxiliary basket removably mounted on the agitator. Such an auxiliary basket will enable the small fabric load to be laundered in a reduced quantity of water and without being subjected to the operation of the agitator, the washing action instead being obtained by water movement resulting from the motion of the agitator-carried auxiliary basket.

Furthermore, to overcome the problem of providing an appropriate cycle for washing small loads of fabrics, it

has become commonplace to provide automatic washers with such controls as will enable the operator to vary the length of the washing cycle. By the provision of such controls, the operator can select a washing cycle wherein the wash time is reduced to approximately 20 minutes, followed by the usual 4-minute centrifugal extraction, 4-minute rinse, and the final 7-minute centrifugal extraction. However, it is important to note that while the aforementioned controls may serve to provide a cycle of operation having a reduced washing time, there is no corresponding provision made for reducing the subsequent rinse and centrifugal extraction times. When the above-mentioned small auxiliary basket is used with such a cycle, the usual 4-minute centrifugal extraction, 4- minute rinse, and final 7-minute centrifugal extraction are of excessive length and may cause unnecessary wear to the fabrics. It is therefore desirable that the cycle control means which is provided to control the washer operation include a capability for reducing the rinse and centrifugal extraction times as well as the washing time. It is also desirable when washing small loads of lightly soiled fabrics to reduce the wash time significantly below the common 20-minute limit usually provided.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a cycle control means whereby the length of each portion of the cycle may be selected from among at least two operating run times.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved washing machine having a cycle control means which provides for variation of the length of the cleaning cycle without changing the relative lengths of the washing, rinsing, and centrifugal extraction operations within the cycle.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a cycle control means having a two-speed drive train adapted to selectively transmit low or high speed rotational motion from a drive motor to a rotary switch operating cam.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided in a motor-driven cam-operated switch having at least one switch means, a rotary cam adapted to selectively open and close the switch means in response to the rotation of the cam, and a drive motor adapted for connection to a source of electrical energy, the improvement of a two-speed drive train adapted to selectively transmit low or high speed rotational motion to the rotary cam. The drive trains comprises first and second drive pinions adapted to engage and drive the rotary cam, means to selectively engage one of the drive pinions with the rotary cam, and drive means adapted to connect each of the drive pinions to the drive motor such that the first drive pinion may be operative to drive the rotary cam at high speed, and the second drive pinion may be operative to drive the rotary cam at low speed. By this arrangement, the rotary cam can be selectively driven at high or low speed by selectively engaging either the first drive pinion or the second drive ninion therewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a washing machine incorporating one embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cam-operated switch of my invention, the view being partly broken away to illustrate details;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 2, the view being partly broken away to illustrate details; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the drive mechanism of the switch of FIG. 2, partially in schematic form.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, there is illustrated an agitator-type vertical-axis automatic clothes washer having an outer supporting cabinet 11. The washer may include the various operational components conventionally utilized in a domestic automatic washing machine, for instance, an imperforate tub 12 rigidly mounted within structure 11. Rotatably supported within tub 12 is a perforate washing basket 13 for washing and rinsing clothes therein and for centrifugally extracting liquid therefrom. At the center of basket 13 there is provided an agitator 14 which includes a centerpost 15 having a plurality of curved water circulating vanes 16 joined at their lower end to form an outwardly flared skirt 17.

Both clothes basket 13 and the agitator 14 are rotatably mounted. The basket is mounted on a flange 18 of a hub 19 and the agitator 14 is mounted on a shaft 20 which extends upwardly through the hub 19 and through the centerpost 15 and is secured to the agitator so as to drive it. During one possible cycle of operation of the washer 10, fabrics, detergent anda predetermined quantity of liquid are introduced into the tub 12 and basket 13 and the agitator is then oscillated back and forth about its axis to wash the clothes within the basket. After a predetermined period of this washing action, basket 13 is rotated at high speed to centrifugally extract the washing liquid from the fabrics and discharge it to a drain (not shown). Following this extraction operation, a supply of clean liquid is introduced into the basket for rinsing the fabrics and the agitator is again oscillated. Finally, the basket is once more rotated at high speed to extract the rinse liquid.

The basket 13 and agitator 14 may be driven by any suitable means. By way of example, I have shown them as driven from a reversible motor 21 through a drive mechanism including a clutch 22 mounted on the motor shaft. The motor is tailored so as to be used to its full extent when it accelerates the basket 13 to spin speed. In order to assist the motor during starting, clutch 22 allows the motor to start without a load and to then accept the load as it comes up to speed. A suitable belt 23 transmits power from clutch 22 to a transmission assembly 24 through a pulley 25. Thus, depending upon the direction of motor rotation, the pulley 25 of transmission 24 is driven in opposite directions. The transmission 24 is so aranged that it supports and drives both the agitator drive shaft 20 and the basket mounting hub 19. When motor 21 is rotated in one direction the transmission causes agitator 14 to oscillate and, when motor 21 is driven in the opposite direction, the transmission rotates the clothes basket 13 and agitator 14 together at high speed for centrifugal fluid extraction. While this specific type of transmission used does not form a part of the present invention, reference is made to US. Pat. No. 2,884,225, issued July 22, 1958, to James R. Hubbard et al. and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

That patent discloses in detail the structural characteristics of the transmission assemblies suitable for use in the illustrated machine.

In addition to operating the transmission 24 as described, motor 21 also provides a direct drive through a flexible coupling 26 to a pump structure 27, which includes two separate pumping units 28 and 29 which are operated simultaneously in the same direction by motor 21. Pump unit 28 has an inlet connected by conduit 30 to an opening 31 formed in the lowermost part of tub 12 and an outlet connected by a conduit to a suitable drain (not shown). Pump 29 has an inlet connected by a conduit 33 to the interior of tub 12 and an outlet connected by conduit 34 to a nozzle 35 which is positioned to discharge into a suitable perforate bottomed filter pan 36 which may be secured to the top portion of agitator 14 so as to be easily removable therefrom. With this structure, then, when the motor is operating so as to provide agitation, pump unit 29 draws liquid in through conduit 33 from tub 12 and discharges it through conduit 34 into filter pan 36, and then down through the small openings provided in the bottom of filter pan back into the basket. Conversely, when the motor is reversed so as to rotate the basket 13 and agitator 14 together at high speed to centrifugally extract fluid from the fabrics in the basket, pump unit 28 will draw liquid in from opening 31 through conduit 30 and discharge it through conduit 32 to drain. Each of the pump units is substantially inoperative in the direction of rotation in which it is not used.

Basket 13, agitator 14, motor 21, clutch 22 and transmission 24 form a suspended washing and centrifuging system which may be supported by the stationary structure. While any suitable suspension structure may be used, I show by Way of example, a suspension structure which includes a bracket member 37 with transmission 24 mounted on the top thereof and motor 21 mounted to the underside thereof. A counterweight 38 is mounted on the bracket member 37 opposite motor 21 to aid in balancing the weight distribution of the various components of the suspended system. The bracket member 37, in turn, is secured to upwardly extending members 39 and each of the two upwardly extending members 39 is connected to a cable 40 supported from the top of the machine. While only a portion of the suspension system is shown in the drawing, such a suspension system is fully described and claimed in US. Pat. No. 2,987,190, issued June 6, 1961, to John Bochan and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

In order to accommodate the movementwhich occurs between basket 13 and tub 12 without any danger of fluid leakage between them, the stationary tub 12 is joined to the upper part of transmission 24 by flexible boot member 41. A member of this type is described and claimed in US. Pat. No. 2,959,966, issued Nov. 15, 1960 to John Bochan and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

Hot and cold Water may be supplied to the machine through conduits 42 and 43 which are adapted to be connected respectively to sources of hot and cold water (not shown). Conduits 42 and 43 extend into a conventional mixing valve structure 44 having solenoids 45 and 46 being connected to a hose 37. In a conventional manner selective or concurrent energization of solenoids 45 and 46 will provide the passage of hot, cold or warm water from the mixing valve 44 through the hose 47. Hose 47 is positioned to discharge into the basket 13 so that when one or both of solenoids 45 and 46 are energized, water enters basket 13 and tub 12.

In order to gently wash delicate and dainty garments as well as other small loads of lightly soiled fabrics, the machine 10 may be provided with a small auxiliary basket 48 removably mounted on centerpost 15 of agitator 14 so that the washing action within this small basket is obtained by water movement resulting from the motion of the agitator 14 carrying with it the basket 48. Filter pan 36 may serve as a lid for basket 48 while the openings on the bottom of the filter pan provide an entrance for liquid into basket 48. Liquid egress openings 49 are provided in the peripheral wall of basket 48 at such a height as to assure the maintenance of a small volume of washing liquid in basket 48. The peripheral wall of basket 48 may be so tapered as to assure an upward movement of the liquid within the basket and discharge thereof through openings 49 during centrifugal extraction.

In order to provide for the selection of various operating cycles, a variety of control means such as 50, 51, 52 and 53 may be provided within an upstanding control console 54. In accordance with one embodiment of my invention and as will be explained later in greater detail, control means 52 and 53 may be associated with a cycle control timer 55 adapted to sequentially operate the mechanism of the machine 10 through such an operating cycle as may be preselected by setting control means 50, 51, 52 and 53.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2, it may be seen that cycle control timer 55 includes a drive motor 56 adapted for connetcion to a source of electrical energy (not shown). A drive pinion 57 extends from motor 56 and is adapted to engage a first gear 58 of a drive train indicated generally by the numeral 59. Drive train 59, as will be explained below in greater detail, is adapted to selectively transmit low or high speed rotational motion from drive motor 56 to a rotary cam 60. For this purpose drive train 59 includes a first output pinion 61 and a second output pinion 62 adapted to engage a toothed circumferential surface 63 on rotary cam 60 so as to drive the cam. Referring briefly to FIG. which shows drive train 59 and cam 60 somewhat schematically, it may be seen that the lower surface of rotary cam 60 may be provided with at least one cam operating surface 64 adapted to open and close the contacts 65 and 66 of at least one switch means 67. In actual practice, it will be realized that the lower surface of cam 60 may, for example, incorporate thirty or more cam operating surfaces adapted to open and close as many as twenty or more pairs of switch contacts to control washer operation.

As was previously mentioned, it is the function of drive train 59 to selectively transmit low or high speed rotational motion from the drive motor 56 to the rotary cam 60. In order to better explain the structural details of drive train 59, reference will be made to FIGS. 3 and 4 in conjunction with FIG. 5. It should be noted at the outset, however, that while FIGS. 3 and 4 are taken from FIG. 2 looking substantially from left to right, FIG. 5 is taken looking substantially from right to left. For this reason, output gears 61 and 62 appear, respectively, on the right and left of FIGS. 3 and 4, but are positionally reversed in FIG. 5.

Referring now primarily to FIG. 5, it may be seen that drive motor pinion 57 rotating in the direction of arrow 68 serves to drive first gear 58 in the direction of arrow 69. First gear 58 comprises an integral stacked change gear having a first circumferential toothed surface 70 in engaging contact with drive pinion 57, and having second and third circumferential toothed surfaces 71 and 72 respectively engaging a first input gear 73 and a second input gear 74. Gears 73 and 74 are rigidly secured, respectively, to first clutch input shaft 75 and second input shaft 76. Output pinions 61 and 62 are rotatably mounted respectively on shafts 75 and 76 for rotation relative thereto and are held axially in position on their upper side by snap rings 77. Interposed between first input gear 73 and first output pinion 61 is a first clutch indicated generally by the numeral 78. Similarly interposed between second input gear 74 and second output pinion 62 is a second clutch indicated generally by the numeral 79. In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the relative gear ratios between gear 58 and each of gears 73 and 74 are such that first input shaft 75 is rotated at a relatively high speed while second input shaft 76 is rotated at relatively low speed. By this arrangement, when first clutch 78 is operative to rotate first output pinion 61 at the speed of shaft 75, cam 60 will be driven :at high speed, whereas, when second clutch is operative to drive second output gear 62 at the speed of shaft 76, cam 60 will be driven at low speed.

The detailed construction of first and second clutches 78 and 79 can be better understood with reference to FIG. 4, wherein it may be seen that first and second output pinions 61 and 62 have formed integrally therewith first and second shaft portions, 80 and 81, respectively. As was previously mentioned, pinions 61 and 62 are rotatably mounted on the shafts 75 and 76, respectively. Interference wound coil springs 82 and 83 are respectively pressed onto first and second shaft portions 80 and 81 and also respectively onto portions 84 and 85 of input shafts 75 and 76. By this arrangement of input shafts 75 and 76, output shafts 80 and 81, and coiled springs 82 and 83, first and second clutches 78 and 79 are enabled to transmit rotational motion from their respective input shafts to their output shafts only in the direction of arrows 86 and 87. This is to say that each of the springs 82 and 83 are so wound that when its associated input shaft is rotated in the direction of the aforementioned arrows 86 and 87, the frictional engagement between the spring and the input shaft will cause the spring coils to tighten about the associated input and output shafts and cause simultaneous rotation thereof. If, however, either of the input shafts should for some reason be rotated in a direction opposite arrows 86 and 87, or, if either of the output pinions 62 or 63 should be driven in the direction of arrows 86 and 87 by forward rotation of cam 60 in the direction of arrow 88, the associated clutch spring 82 or 83 will be so rotated as to loosen the grip of its coils and will therefore serve to transmit no motion between its associated input and output shafts.

It will be recognized that the function of clutches 78 and 79 is to permit the operator to rotate the control means 53 (which as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5 may be connected to cam 60 by shaft 89) to an initial starting position without causing a corresponding rotation of the drive motor 56. In other words, when the operator desires to rotate control means 53 in the direction of arrow 88, toothed surface 63 will cause one of the output gears 61 or 62 to rotate so as to overdrive one of the clutches 78 or 79, thereby loosening the grip of either coil spring 82 or 83, consequently transmitting no rotational motion to either shaft 75 or 76, or to the drive motor 56.

In accordance with my invention means are provided to selectively engage one of the drives pinions 61 or 62 with toothed surface 63 of the rotary cam 60. In the preferred embodiment of my invention, such means comprises member 90 pivotally mounted on the upper end 91 of a shaft 92 which carries first gear 58. Member 90 is connected by means of a control rod 93 and an actuating arm 94 to control means 52 such that control means 52 is operable to pivot member 90 about shaft end 91. Holes 95 and 96 are formed within member 90 so as to receive and carry the upper end of shafts 75 and 76. By this arrangement, when member 90 is pivoted about shaft end 91, shafts 75 and 76 carrying pinions 61 and 62, respectively, may be pivoted toward or away from toothed cam surface 63 so as to move one of the pinions 61 or 62 into engagement with toothed surface 63 while moving the other of the pinions out of engagement with the toothed surface 63. It will therefore be apparent that by selective positioning of control means 52, cam 60 may be driven at high or low speed, respectively, by engaging pinions 61 or 62 with cam surface 63.

In operation, when it is desired to launder a small load of lightly soiled fabrics, auxiliary basket 48 may be installed on agitator 14 and fabrics to be washed placed within basket 48. Filter pan 36 may then be installed as a cover for the auxiliary basket 48 and detergent placed therein for the washing process. Control means 50, 51, 52, and 53 may then be positioned so as to provide the desired washing action. In particular, control means 52 may be so rotated as to cause pinion 61 to engage cam surface 63 thereby making first clutch 78 operative to drive the cam 60 at high speed. Control 53 may then be positioned so as to start the laundering cycle at a position on cam 60 that will result in a wash time of the desired length. Machine operation then proceeds through the washing cycle with the cam operated switch 67 being driven at high speed so as to substantially shorten the centrifugal extraction and rinse operations which follow the washing operation.

When, in the alternative, it is desired to wash a large load of fabrics in the basket 13, auxiliary basket 48 is removed from the machine. The fabrics are placed within basket 13, and such detergent as may be required is placed within the filter pan 36. Controls 50, 51, 52, and 53 are then actuated to carry out the desired washing cycle. In particular, control 52 is positioned so as to cause pinion 62 to engage cam surface 63 thereby making second clutch 79 operative to drive cam 60 at low speed. Control means 53 is then positioned to select a desired laundering time, whereafter cam operated switch 67 will run at low speed resulting in centrifugal extraction and rinse operations of normal length.

As was previously mentioned, the cam operated switch of my invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with automatic clothes washers wherein it is desirable to provide for the washing of small loads of lightly soiled fabrics with a washing cycle having reduced centrifugal extraction and rinse times as Well as a reduced washing cycle. From the foregoing description it should now be apparent that the present invention, by employing a cam operated switch having a two-speed drive train adapted to selectively transmit low or high speed rotational motion from the drive motor to the rotary cam, provides a control means which may serve to reduce centrifugal extraction and rinse times as well as the washing time.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the invention are not limited to the particular details of construction of the example illustrated, and it is contemplated that various applications or modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that the appended claims shall cover such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a motor-driven cam-operated switch having at least one switch means, a rotary cam for selectively opening and closing the switch means in response to the rotation of the cam, and a drive motor, the improvement of a two-speed drive train for selectively transmitting low or high speed rotational motion from the drive motor to the rotary cam, comprising:

a toothed circumferential surface on said cam;

first and second drive pinions for engaging said toothed surface to drive said cam;

a pivotally mounted member for selectively engaging one of said drive pinions with said toothed surface while simultaneously moving the other of said drive pinions out of engagement with said toothed surface; and

drive means connecting each of said drive pinions to said drive motor such that said first drive pinion is operative to drive the rotary cam at high speed and said second drive pinion is operative to drive the rotary cam at low speed.

2. The invention of claim 1 additionally including:

a first uni-directional spring clutch for transmitting rotational motion in a driving direction only from the drive motor to said first drive pinion; and

a second uni-directional spring clutch transmitting rotational motion in a driving direction only from the drive motor to said second drive pinion;

whereby the cam may be rotated forwardly to a new position without causing a corresponding rotation of the drive motor when either of said pinions is in engagement with said toothed surface.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein:

said first clutch connects a first input shaft to a first output shaft coaxially aligned therewith;

said second clutch connects a second input shaft to a second output shaft coaxially aligned therewith;

said first drive pinion is operatively connected to said first output shaft for rotation therewith;

said second drive pinion is operatively connected to said second output shaft for rotation therewith; and

said pivotally mounted member engages said output shafts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,664,167 12/1953 Ostergren 74-354X 2,896,873 7/1959 Mageoch 74354X 3,028,767 4/1962 Moore 74-354X ARTHUR T. MCKEON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 19248.92 

